Can a Blood Test Predict Type 2 Diabetes?

Lab says it can assess your risk for developing the disease within 5 years

By Susan Sloane
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> Susan B. Sloane, BS, RPh, CDE, has been a registered pharmacist for more than 20 years and a Certified Diabetes Educator for more than 15 years. Her two sons were diagnosed with diabetes, and since then, she has been dedicated to promoting wellness and optimal outcomes as a patient advocate, information expert, educator, and corporate partner.

There is a new lab that says it can predict your health future from a simple blood test. Would you be willing to try this?

The idea of "predictive" blood testing is becoming increasingly popular in the world of medicine. What if you knew you were at risk for type 2 diabetes? This PreDx(R) test claims to be able to predict if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes within five years. It works by assessing different biomarkers such as A1C, but also includes other markers such as C-reactive protein— which is a measure of how much internal "inflammation" may be in the body — and other markers that have been studied to be able to help predict the risk of type 2 diabetes.

When considering a predictive test, you need to ask yourself: What would I do with the information if I were at risk? Let's consider the high-profile case of Angelina Jolie. After she found herself at risk for breast cancer, she had preventative surgery. If you were found to be at risk for diabetes, you should adopt a very healthy lifestyle — embark on a healthy diet plan, lose weight if necessary, and regularly exercise. This could possibly prevent you from developing type 2 diabetes. Science has come a long way, and if we use the information wisely, this may be a good test for some. Remember that insurance companies may not pay for such testing.